Alternative media report 2009

CIRANDA OF INDEPENDENT INFORMATION Since the first WSF in 2001, the network Ciranda International of Independent Information
has made efforts to follow, cover and contribute to the shared activities of the alternative
media in the WSF’s thematic universe. In 2008 and 2009, we have participated in a new
phase of the activities of the WSF IC Communication Commission, with the commitment to
promote and fortify the shared communication activities of the alternative media and social
movement communicators.

Resources In order to carry out the above work, Ciranda had the following material support:
1) 9,000 Euros from the IC Communication Commission, remunerating the job of one
professional during six months, including expenses relating to flight tickets and transport
during the periods of activity in Belém, Internet and telephone charges, and exchange
fees.
2) Accomodation in Belém for two people from Ciranda in an apartment rented for the
Paulo Freire Institute, which also housed two people from the TV Forum and two members
of the Shared Communication seminar working group.
3) The non-remunerated work of 18 Ciranda professionals and several volunteers during
the WSF.
4) Use of equipment belonging to CEPEPO for the activities of a Shared Communication
Laboratory, which was in operation before, during and after the 2009 edition of the WSF.
This laboratory was created by a partnership formed by Ciranda and CEPEPO, with
participation from the TV and Radio Forums and regional social movements.

Ciranda’s Mission 2008-2009
1) Promote the transference of knowledge, both practical and of the history of the
experiences of shared communication, to new participants and protagonists in the WSF
process
2) Approach alternative media and social communicators within the WSF universe and
facilitate their linkage to one of the Shared Communication projects, particularly the Radio
and TV Forums and Ciranda.
3) Promote debates on the perspective of communication towards the construction of
Another Possible World and contribute to the development of WSF communication
proposals.
4) Contribute to the exchange of information about ideas in construction, debate or dispute
wihin each of the WSF’s objectives, through shared journalistic activity between alternative
media, contributors, journalists and social communicators.

Belém Strategy
Stimulating the presence of the regional and international alternative media in Belém
during WSF 2009 was the main challenge for the WSF Communication Group, due to
WSF2009 – Communication commission shared projects report – p. 20Lab
access difficulties, travel and accommodation costs, and logistical difficulties relating to the
transmission of information in real time. Ciranda made this challenge a priority, by making
the following decisions in 2008.
1) To have a presence in Belém from 2008 – to strengthen the city as a centre for
articulation of alternative media en route to WSF 2009, rather than just an event for press
coverage during the Forum. This work involved the organization of and participation in
various meetings of local and regional groups following the July 2008 meeting of the WSF
IC in Belém, as well as workshops for mutual learning and capacity-building, to construct a
local communication process for the WSF. This process resulted in the creation of local
management nuclei for the international Shared Communication projects that form part of
the WSF process.
2) Contribute to the formation of links between all the Shared Communication projects -
acting within these in order to guarantee that their participants had knowledge and
possibilities to contribute to each other’s work and jointly define the demands, technologies
and collective management of the Alternative Media Centre. This strategy was important in
order to support the construction of permanent links between the local and international
nuclei of the projects, especially through the creation of a permanent WSF Shared
Communication Laboratory in the pan-Amazonian region.
3) Contribute to the promotion of the World Free Media Forum in Belém, which took place
prior to the WSF, including the 1st International Seminar about WSF Shared
Communication. This effort made possible the physical presence of media and
communication groups in Belém and provoked a qualified debate that contributed with its
contents to the WSF process.

Other activities developed during the WSF 1) Management of attendance in the Alternative Media Centre, including training
workshops for volunteers.
2) Workshop in the Alternative Media Centre with representatives of the Shared
Communication projects and Jamal Juma of the Stop the Wall, to discuss continued joint
actions with representatives of the Palestinian people.
3) Workshop in the Alternative Media Centre with representatives of the Shared
Communication projects and Sergio Amadeu from the Brasilian Rede Livre (Free
Network), focusing on the rights to access to free technologies and defense of Internet
freedoms.
4) Participation in activities to support the call for the 1st National Communication
Conference in Brazil (finally announced by President Lula during the WSF and already
scheduled for 3rd December 2009)
Activities after the WSF
1) Ciranda evaluation meeting on April 4th 2009, which also resulted in the call for the
foundation of an International Association of Shared Communication, intended to promote
the shared communication between alternative media and social movements,
organizations and networks, as well as overseeing the principles and activities of Ciranda.
WSF2009 – Communication commission shared projects report – p. 21
2) Post-WSF workshops to consolidate the permanent activities of the new Shared
Communication Laboratory in Belém, as well as the permanent process of building a
relationship between the Pan-Amazonian Social Forum’s new communication groups and
the WSF IC Communication Commission.
3) Final workshops in Sao Paulo and Belém to edit and upload content with WSF
coverage, such as pictures, videos and articles, received post-WSF. We observe that three
months after the WSF 2009 edition, Ciranda continues receiving such content.
Rita Freire, Ciranda.net (supported by Istituto Paulo Freire)
rita@ciranda.net